EVALUATION OF ORAL HYGIENE AND DENTAL STATUS AMONG 7–10-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL CHILDREN

Ana Gabriela Seni, Liana Todor, Mariana Păcurar, Mălina Popa, Ștefania Dinu, Anca Porumb, Silviu Ionel Dumitresc, Monica Tarcea

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2025.2.17.19

ABSTRACT

Aim of the study: The prevalence of dental problems among school-age children continues to be a major public health concern. This research aims to provide a detailed assessment of the oral-dental status of schoolchildren aged 7-10 years, identifying the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal problems, and other oral conditions. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 700 children, aged between 7 and 10, from nine urban and rural schools in two Romanian counties, Mures and Bistrita-Năsăud. Sociodemographic data of the study participants, including the education and professional status of the parents, as well as information on oral hygiene practices, such as tooth brushing, flossing, brushing frequency, together with the total number of meals per day, number of snacks between meals per day and sugar intake per day, were obtained. In addition, a specialist to evaluate the number of decayed teeth, the number of missing teeth, and the number of filled teeth assessed the children’s oral cavity. Using the plaque index, the presence of plaque on the tooth surface was reported, and the DMFT index was used to determine the state of dental caries. Results: The mean plaque score in boys (mean = 0.69 ± 0.36) was slightly higher than in girls (mean = 0.65 ± 0.40); in urban children, the mean plaque score was 0.61 ± 0.32, and in rural children, 0.73 ± 0.38. Increased frequency of snacking (P = 0.02) and sugar consumption (P = 0.01) per day showed significantly higher DMFT values. Conclusions: The results show that children who consume more sugar, eat more snacks per day, and brush their teeth occasionally are more prone to tooth decay. It is recommended that dental public health practitioners consider the effect of oral hygiene practices on oral health status when designing future health promotion interventions.